RALESTONE LUCK
By ANDRE NORTON
_Author of_ The Prince Commands
ILLUSTRATED BY JAMES REID
D. APPLETON-CENTURY COMPANY INCORPORATED NEW YORK 1938 LONDON
Copyright, 1938, by D. Appleton-Century Company, Inc.
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TO
D. B. N.
_In return for many miles of proof so diligently read_
[Illustration: _"How hold ye Lorne?" Rupert's softly spoken question brought the well-remembered answer to Val's lips: "By the oak leaf, by the sea wave, by the broadsword blade, thus hold we Lorne!"_]
CONTENTS
I. THE RALESTONES COME HOME
II. THE LUCK OF THE LORDS OF LORNE
III. THE RALESTONES ENTERTAIN AN UNOBTRUSIVE VISITOR
IV. PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE
V. THEIR TENANT DISCOVERS THE RALESTONES
VI. SATAN GOES A-HUNTING AND FINDS WORK FOR IDLE HANDS
VII. BY OUR LUCK!
VIII. GREAT-UNCLE RICK WALKS THE HALL
IX. PORTRAIT OF A LADY AND A GENTLEMAN
X. INTO THE SWAMP
XI. RALESTONES TO THE RESCUE!
XII. THE RALESTONES BRING HOME A RELUCTANT GUEST
XIII. ON SUCH A NIGHT AS THIS--
XIV. PIRATE WAYS ARE HIDDEN WAYS
XV. PIECES OF EIGHT--RALESTONES' FATE!
XVI. RALESTONES STAND TOGETHER
XVII. THE RETURN OF RICK RALESTONE
XVIII. RUPERT BRINGS HOME HIS MARCHIONESS
ILLUSTRATIONS
"How hold ye Lorne?" Rupert's softly spoken question brought the well-remembered answer to Val's lips: "By the oak leaf, by the sea wave, by the broadsword blade, thus hold we Lorne!"
"I'se Lucy," she stated, thoroughly at her ease. "An' dis is Letty-Lou"
Ricky lifted off the cover. Val stared at the canvas
"It's a genuine Audubon," Charity said
_Zzzzzrupp_! Satan was industriously ripping the remnants of lining from its interior
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: Ralestone Luck by Andre Norton
- 2: Corrected Ricky Ralestone somewhat indifferently
- 3: 'The Ralestones are unfair to ghosts
- 4: Ricky leaned forward between them
- 5: That was where the Luck How hold ye Lorne
- 6: The Ralestones have been luckless too long
- 7: The storm Rupert had spoken of could not be far off
- 8: A moment later Ricky stood in the doorway
- 9: Ricky laughed unsteadily and released Val's arm
- 10: Decided Val an explorer in an English tobacco advertisement
- 11: How many Ralestones died violently
- 12: Richard Ralestone was born in England
- 13: When Falesse reached his brother
- 14: The war beggared the Ralestones
- 15: Val swung his feet down from the couch
- 16: On impulse Val shouted after him
- 17: That was nice of her Yo'all is Ralestones
- 18: LeFleur probably told them all about us
- 19: Ricky took back the disputed square
- 20: It was after ten before Val came downstairs crab fashion
- 21: Letty Lou don' git no pay but her eatments
- 22: I'se leavin' dis heah hous' in youah keer
- 23: LeFleur occupies the second floor
- 24: The LeFleurs have served the Ralestones
- 25: Of the missing Ralestone Roderick
- 26: This news LeFleur gestured widely
- 27: We might have had him voodooed
- 28: I've heard of New Orleans pralines all my life
- 29: Val changed gears and drove on
- 30: Rupert Ralestone of Pirate's Haven
- 31: Charity Biglow looked at them solemnly
- 32: Miss Biglow looked at Val thoughtfully
- 33: One simply couldn't resent Charity Biglow
- 34: Ricky Val began uncertainly
- 35: And only Ricky wanted to fight
- 36: Val fumbled at the rusty latch
- 37: We've found a secret room began Ricky
- 38: And just what is a Sergnoret piece
- 39: As Val moved around to the opposite side to see better
- 40: Ricky touched the chest lovingly
- 41: Charity eyed the portfolio wistfully
- 42: Ricky surveyed the picture hanging opposite her
- 43: For Letty Lou was in the kitchen
- 44: Gatty has returned from the city
- 45: Ricky was still dangling the earrings before her eyes
- 46: Perhaps this was found in some old barrow on Lorne lands
- 47: Ricky picked up the chocolate pot
- 48: Which of course left the horse to Val
- 49: I happen to be a Ralestone also
- 50: I am the Ralestone in residence
- 51: The visiting Ralestone glared at Rupert
- 52: While the swamper eyed him composedly
- 53: When they reached that point Ricky halted
- 54: It was just possible Val paused
- 55: Rupert Ralestone of Pirate's Haven
- 56: Formless something is just what you need
- 57: Ricky was the first to see him
- 58: The Haiti of more than a hundred years ago
- 59: So you had better impress Creighton as soon as possible
- 60: Pirate's Haven is Ralestone property
- 61: But Jeems doesn't know he's gone
- 62: As Ricky seemed to delight in doing
- 63: Ricky must have been in a hurry
- 64: She a goin' to see dat swamper Jeems
- 65: Val fastened the canoe beside it
- 66: He saw Ricky staring down at him
- 67: Ricky pressed closer to her brother
- 68: This swamper must tell us His voice trailed away
- 69: They're planning trouble for Jeems
- 70: Answered Jeems as concisely as before
- 71: There was no immediate answer from the swamper
- 72: Prompted the man impatiently as Jeems hesitated
- 73: Val regarded the bleeding wound doubtfully
- 74: They wriggled Jeems awkwardly into the boat
- 75: The confession came out of the swamper in a rush
- 76: I don't know what Jeems did to Red
- 77: Ricky glanced at Rupert and then left
- 78: Jeems stabbed a finger at the door
- 79: Jeems had callers who forgot their manners
- 80: Ricky was also in disgrace for speaking her mind
- 81: Creighton had lost his nervous shyness
- 82: Why hasn't he written to Lever
- 83: Someone had used the story of the missing Ralestone
- 84: Swampers lived on house boats for the most part
- 85: Val reminded himself hurriedly
- 86: But stubbornly the outboard fought on
- 87: Jeems told me after you left Val
- 88: Val thought that the Ralestones
- 89: Val was determined to keep Ricky out of trouble
- 90: Suddenly Ricky gave a little cry
- 91: Val cried out suddenly and struck at her
- 92: Rupert doesn't know where we are
- 93: If Ricky had not dropped the money
- 94: But Ricky had presence of mind enough to answer
- 95: Val repeated as Ricky came back to him
- 96: Ricky answered for Val brightly
- 97: Ricky rolled her eyes heavenward
- 98: Val decided that he could hardly raise a protest
- 99: Jeems glanced at Val as he went by the boy's cot
- 100: Could Jeems interpret that hint
- 101: Yuh ain't so smart as yuh think yuh are
- 102: He bowed slightly toward LeFleur and Creighton
- 103: Leaving the Ralestones in possession of the victorious field
- 104: Ralestone took the refugees to Curacao
- 105: But didn't he ever try to get in touch with the Ralestones
- 106: There is no denying that you are both Ralestones
- 107: She began when Val lifted his hand
- 108: We are going to play badminton
- 109: Ricky expressed her surprise vividly with upflung hands
- 110: It seems to get hotter and hotter